Conservation Law Enforcement Corner – December 2018

Gwinnett County: On Sept. 10, 2017, Cpl. Eddie Tompkins received a call in reference to three hunters who had posted a picture on social media that showed them with three bucks from the previous morning. The caller stated that he believed the subjects were hunting at Simpsonwood Park in Norcross.

“I decided to call one of the hunters and get his side of the story. I called Kyle Pugh on the cell number listed on his hunting license,” wrote Cpl. Tompkins in his incident report. “Mr. Pugh stated they had killed the deer in Buford. He was somewhat standoffish and short with his answers.

“We went to Lancaster’s deer cooler in Buford. While speaking with the workers at the deer cooler, Mr. Pugh called wanting to know if the game wardens were there. A few minutes later I received a call from Mr. Pugh stating that they were hunting at Simpsonwood Park.”

Cited were Keith Pugh, of Flowery Branch; David Grobe, of Winder; and John Lott, of Jefferson. Confiscated as evidence were a 9-point buck, and 8-point buck and a 6-pointer.

According to Gwinnett County court records, Keith Pugh pleaded guilty on Dec. 6, 2017 to hunting on private land without permission and was fined $140. For unlawful possession/concealment of illegally taken wildlife, he was fined another $140. David Grobe was sentenced Nov. 7, 2017 on a nolo contendre plea for charges of hunting on private land without permission and unlawful possession/concealment of illegally taken wildlife. He was fined $680 and received 12 months probation. John Lott entered a nolo contendre plea on Nov. 1, 2017 was fined $250 for hunting on private land without permission.